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Kannapolis blanked by West Virginia Friday night

May 25, 2018

In game one of the four-game series in West Virginia, the Kannapolis Intimidators (29-17) were shutout by West Virginia Friday night at Appalachian Power Park 5-0, with only five batters reaching base against four Power pitchers. After a two-strikeout inning in the first for the Intimidators, LHP Parker Rigler (L,

In game one of the four-game series in West Virginia, the Kannapolis Intimidators (29-17) were shutout by West Virginia Friday night at Appalachian Power Park 5-0, with only five batters reaching base against four Power pitchers.
After a two-strikeout inning in the first for the Intimidators, LHP Parker Rigler (L, 2-2) surrendered a leadoff walk to Chris Sharpe, followed by a Calvin Mitchell double to left field, giving the Power a 1-0 lead. Next up, Deon Stafford Jr. smacked an infield single to Laz Rivera at short, putting runners at the corners for Oneil Cruz. On the fourth pitch of his at-bat, Cruz hit a fly ball to center, deep enough to score Mitchell from third for a 2-0 advantage.
Despite striking out the side in the second, Rigler allowed two singles in the third inning, highlighted by a Mitchell single to right field, scoring Lolo Sanchez to give Cody Bolton (W, 1-0) a three-run cushion.
The Intimidators had one of their two chances to score in the fourth after Rivera led off the inning with a double, followed by a Craig Dedelow flyout to center, allowing Rivera to tag up and move to third. After a walk to Tate Blackman on five pitches, Anthony Villa struck out and Justin Yurchak flied out to left field, unable to capitalize with two runners on.
In the sixth, Luis González got things started for the I's with a double down the right field line, stealing third for his sixth stolen base of the season. With one out, Dedelow grounded a pitch back to Bolton, who proceeded to throw to third and get Gonzalez out in a pickle between third and home to end another Kannapolis threat.
In the eighth, the Power (scored two more runs against Kannapolis reliever Jose Nin off a single and a double, giving West Virginia a five-run lead going into the ninth.
The Intimidators will take on West Virginia in game two of the four-game series Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park.